I was gonna suggest... Ask Anne, but I see she has already given advice:) I am wanting a new one too! Mine is a Fuji and is in need of replacement! I dropped it out of the car and it is held together with a zip tie:( Poor pitiful ME! Can't wait to see what you decide on! HUGS!

I started with a Nikon D-40 and loved it. We upgraded to a D-80 (which is discontinued) but I'm not as crazy about it. If I get another it will be a Nikon. My son has a D-300, I think that's the model it is. He loves it. So we are a Nikon family.

You may want to read reviews on Amazon. I sometimes read reviews there, even though I don't always purchase the item there. But it's a great source for reviews on a lot of things.

My hubby recently purchased a Canon T1i and loves it. I inherited his Canon EOS Rebel XT. Don't ask me what all the bells and whistles do, I'm still learning that part. Like you, I'm not techy at all so its slow going. We're a Canon family.

I've been reading photo forums and critiques and comparisons of cameras for a week now. I've decided I need one camera for the blog (something decent in low light with a wide angle) and something different for family action pics of birthdays and sports and the like.

I'm pretty sold on the Canon S95 for both at this point....I'm not ready for a DSLR :)

On another note, I've spent the morning reading this guys blog...amazing info on taking great pics regardless of your camera:http://www.kenrockwell.com/index.htm

Hi Debra,I'm very new to blogging and not particularly adept at choosing a camera either. However, I can tell you that my hubby recently bought me a Nikon D5000.

I love the camera itself and mine came with two lens. Nice for taking clos-up shots.

BUT...if you run your computer on Microsoft Vista, you can't get the photos directly off your camera. You have to put the photo card into a card reader. I am using my hp printer then exporting the pictures from the hp photo center to Adobe Elements 8.

I made the mistake of rushing through the set-up and had to go back and re-read the set-up info. The above disclaimer only appears in a section of the software installation called..."Important last minute things you should know." How ridiculous is that!

Maybe someone out there can give you better info than this, but I thought I'd share my experience for what its worth.

I just thought of something else. If you buy your camera online...don't use Ritz.com there is no real technical support and the site is a front for a company in bankruptcy. So if you buy a camera from them, you're stuck with it.

Oh Debra I'm hoping and wishing and dreaming of a new camera too! My last really good camera ( before we had digital) was an Olympus and I loved it but the Nikons are pretty great! That's what I'm asking for ( but not the $2700 model Anne is referring too) the one I'm looking at it about $600.Can't wait to see what you get!Tammy :-)JUNK WILD

Hi Debra ...I've had my Canon A570 Point and Shoot style for 3 years now and am more than happy with the quality of pictures and the simplicity of use for someone that doesn't understand apperture settings and all the mumbo jumbo although I wish I did !

It has a great Macro button for getting those perfect upclose shots and shoots large pictures that are the quality to send into magazines.

My computer OS is Windows Vista and I just plug into my USB port to upload photos directly to the software that comes with the camera ... and it also plugs those picts right into my pictures for quick and easy viewing.

It set me back a mere $199- at the time ..I'm sure there are newer equivalent models out there now.

Also I always make my electronics purchases through Costco ..or Sams ..although I choose Costco first ..they have a 90 day return policy and usually a 2 year warranty ..and they have a Customer service line for help and they do help. Knowing your location I know there isn't a Costco ...so I would opt for Sams ..I just like the idea It's a store I can walk into and make a return and there's no hassle or questions asked. And no shipping back and forth with Online places and such.

Hi Debra! I have been researching new cameras too, trying to decide on a Nikon or a Canon, as well as a model. After reading the reviews and considering my price range, I am going to go with the camera that you had mentioned, the Canon Rebel T2i. I am hoping to get it before Christmas :) Can't what to see what you decide.

I'm happy to read this discussion because I'm wanting to upgrade too. I have a Canon PowerShot SX200 IS. It has a 12X zoom which I love with the g'kids but I haven't taken time to really learn what it can do. There's a lady at Lawrence Photo that always helps me. She's so nice & talks a language we can understand but she is an excellent photographer & she encourages you to call or come back in if you have any questions. Also, I heard their adv. where they will match any adv. price. You might give them a try -- I love that local shopping. Good luck! Jan

I have a Canon Power Shot SX10IS that I got 2 years ago. I really love it. It has a macro setting, wide angle setting and a great zoom lens. Yes, I'd love to get a Canon Rebel someday - but I figure I can't earn that until I learn all there is to know about THIS camera. I'm more than pleased with it and I've been told my photos on the blog are very good - so I think it's doing its job!

Most of the sites I researched all talk about how important the lenses are...they make a big difference in the quality of picture! Even using my new lenses on my old Digital Rebel made a significant improvement in the quality of photos I was able to take. {My old Rebel came with the 18-55mm lense}.

Another camera pretty equivalent to the T2i is the Nikon D90. I know several who own this and are very happy with it as well! You wouldn't go wrong with either!

Sounds like you've been a very good girl for Santa to be filling your stocking with such wonderful gifts!xo, Sue

Debra,I so dislike my photo's, I have been on the hunt, and educating myself with superior help! Of course all the professional photograhers say Nikon, yet some say Canon due to the fact there are so many options to the len's and years down the line the new lens will fit. They say Nikon dates itself and hard to make up grades.

I have been told by different friends who have the T1i that they want now the the Canon Rebel T2i, and ones who have it just love it.

So I am looking into the T2i and hope I will be able to learn how to use it. Of course a friend of my daughters who is in Photography school uses it and says it is not a hard camera to use. spend a good day with it and you catch on to it.

Debra let us know what you end up with, I want to hold out until right after Christmas and see if any promotions go on with it.That is if I can hold out, my camera has a lens problem and I so need a new camera.

See you soon girl.For the the Canon Rebel T2i and the features plus price you cannot go wrong with this great camera!

The Canon T2i is a wonderful camera! Rebel's are great especially when trying to learn how to shoot in the Creative Zones (you pick the settings). I have always been a Canon user but last year I got a Nikon D90 and it is way fabulous too! Soooo, you have to ask yourself what you want to do with your camera. And also, go to a camera store and actually pick one up and see how it feels in your hands. As far as lenses go~ that again will depend on what type of photos you want to take. For portraits etc. you can't beat a 50mm 1.8 for the $100 price. Down the road the 50mm 1.4 or even 1.2 is like butter. So a good Prime Lens is a must especially for low light situations. The only thing you have to remember about a Prime Lens is that they don't zoom you have to move with your feet. So if you want a wider shot you have to buy a zoom type lens. Macro's open up a whole new world, I have a couple the Canon 100mm f 2.8 IS which is magic. Most recently for my Nikon I bought the Tokina Macro lens and it is tack sharp plus the close up shots are incredible.

Hi, I have been shooting all my pictures on my blog with my iphone.........so I need a camera period!

My daughter works for a photographer that has very large advertising accounts and they are all about nikon. My sister who is a photographer loves her canon. My daughter who is not a professional was given a Canon Rebel and is shooting amazing pictures of her baby on her own without any experience, the first week she owned it I thought her picture quality was that of a photographer and she is not a techie so it must be easy to figure out. We all set around and discussed Nikon versus Canon and from what I understood of the conversation is Nikon is more expensive but you can do what you want to do with a canonSherry

I am currently"testing" twofrom Costco;The Nikon D5000and the Sony A390.Very comparablecameras althoughthe price on theSony is better.All the photosin my current post{called "Fifteen"}were taken using both ofthose cameras. Costcoalso carries theCanon Rebel T2i and I mighttry that one, too.You can return electronicsfor up to 90 days, sothat is a bonus; plus,their prices are GREAT.Good luck!!xx Suzanne

Hi Debra,I use a Nikon D60 and I love it. I bought a 50mm macro lens to go along with it and I love it even more. I don't often use the lens that came with the camera. I would like to have a better lens for wide angle to a small zoom but when I went to price it...well...I wasn't that good this year. If you can put money into a lens, do it. It makes all the difference.

I have a Canon Power Shot A1000 IS. Love the macro feature. The only thing is I am looking for a replacement as soon as I can afford one.It still works, but here's the bad thing about this one. It is so hard to open the door for the SD card and battery area that little by little, pieces have broken off. Pieces that hold the door shut. So, my camera needed an accessory! A rubber band wrapped around it to hold it shut. This happened over a course of months and by the time I thought about doing something about it - too late. So when I buy my next camera I refused to buy it until I try out the door! UUGH! Most of the places you look at cameras they have them unattended and they are hooked up for anti-theft. Target has them in the glass case and an attendant will help you and allow you to look it over good! Oh Geez - looks like I've written a book! Oh well hope this helps. BTW - my Canon does all of my pictures on my blog and website,

ohhh i have just loved reading all of these comments! i will tell you that you will come across some people who love there canons, & others who love their nikons, they are both great camera. i started with the sony 330a, but if i were to do it all over again i would start with the canon ti2, or even the the 50d {a bit more pricey} but most of all go to a camera store & try them both out, then maybe buy cheaper online. some camera stores will rent out the camera's for a few days so that you can try them out.best of luck, & can't wait to see what you end up with...xoxoxamy boland

I have a canon 7d. i recently upgraded from the canon xti and i couldn't be happier with the new camera. it is a learning curve from the xti but when i took pictures with the old camera after i had been using the new one for a while, there was really no comparison between the two...there is a wealth of information on the web on how to use your camera too. lots of videos on youtube too!!!